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Obama 'heartbroken' over Arizona firefighter deaths

“Wildfires have been continually escalating at higher and higher cost, and putting more and more pressure not only on the federal fire services but also on state and local fire services, and we are going to have to think about what more we can do on that front,” Obama said.

“But for now I think what we are most concerned about are how painful these losses are,” added Obama, who is on an eight-day, multi-nation tour through Africa.

The president, who offered condolences and called the firefighters heroes earlier Monday, said in Tanzania that “we are heartbroken about what happened.”

He said the administration is ready to help support the investigation into the deaths of the crew of elite firefighters, who were battling a blaze about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix.